Biography

I am the product of a small farm town on the Colorado-Kansas border and two hardworking parents that taught me the value of commitment and follow-through. From my father, a retired high school teacher and coach, I learned the value of education and working everyday to help others achieve their dreams. My mother, a retired hospital and hospice nurse taught me the lesson of providing care to those in need and even when you feel tired to find your sustenance and to keep going.

My wife and I have been married for 14 years, and we’ve been blessed with two sons, ages nine and seven. Both attend public school in Denver at the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning. In our household, education and service are top priorities. My wife and I are dedicated to education and the positive impact it can have on individual lives and more broadly, an entire community. I’ve volunteered for the Denver Kids Mentoring Program and science education programs because every child should have the support and opportunity to succeed through education.

Throughout my career, I’ve benefited from opportunities to improve through education. I earned my undergraduate degree in Engineering from Kansas State University, a Master of Science from MIT, and then a PhD in Economic Geography from Oxford University. I was a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, and worked on solutions for bringing more renewable power to poor, rural areas of India. These experiences taught me the incredible value of education and instilled within me a conviction that all people should have an opportunity to pursue their passions regardless of their background.

I’ve been in the environmental and energy space for almost 20 years, working with renewable energy and electricity companies, as well as governments at every level to improve their operations. I also have the privilege of teaching courses at the University of Colorado focused on these issues and get to educate the next generation of leaders in this space. The business and environmental policy insight I’ve gained from these experiences gives me unique perspective on the many challenges that our state currently faces. I’ve come to see how we as a state can do better to give all of our kids equal opportunities, protect our environment, encourage businesses to start up and grow, and expand employment opportunities in Colorado, especially in the clean technology sector.

In the community I have served on several boards and have volunteered with a variety of organizations, including the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board Executive Committee, the Colorado Energy Coalition as Co-Chair, the Central City Opera Board Executive Committee, Denver Kids Mentoring Program, and the UC-Denver Business School Advisory Board. I believe service to be more than an action; it’s a calling.